Painting My Bicycle... help needed, lol ^_^;

[Nagoshi]

All right, I'm planning to paint my bicycle, after fixing it form all the problem he has (need new tires, brake pads, new seat, probably a new coil spring for the rear shock, shifter adjustments... etc), and the paint is all scratched and, basically, ugly and scrap. Id take a picture, but my bro took it *fulminates...* anyway, I saw the Carbon Fiber tutorial, but thought it'd be somehow hard and long to do on a bike, but would look killer. Digital camo would be nice too, but that'd take much more time, lol :P Besides, I don't have an airbrush, so all I can use are spray paint cans.

Of course, it'd need to be weatherproof, rain/dirt/scratch proof if possible, so I thought I'd need, like, the following :

-Primer
-Automotive spray paint
-Clear coat
-Sand paper (grits??)

Except, I never painted a case nor anything with a spray can, so I'd need tips on what material Id need and how to do it. Links to tutorials would be appreciated, and help would also be welcome. English ain'T my main language, I tried to understand some tutorials but it was tricky, and there are still some things I haven't understood.

Thank you for any replies...:redface:

[DaveW]

I just use humbrol enamel paint on bikes. Then again, i'm usually just touching up scratches. The paint's pretty tough, although i sometimes feel that the lighter colors can lose their intensity pretty fast.

-Dave

[Nagoshi]

It's gonna be dark. Im thinking about the carbon fiber paint tutorial, fairly easy but would only take more time than a standard paint to do. And I don't feel like keeping my yellow/blue/black bike that color... since the labels are all faded and scrached, Id be better sanding/priming/sanding/painting/etc ;)

Im gonna take a look at Canadian Tire, while going to buy new pedals and floor mats for my Neon, to see if they have some nice paint.

Enamel is the best thing to go, then?

Was able to get a picture, would you imagine the carbon fibre paint on this? on everything that is yellow, black and blue, handle bar and pedals. Any "chrome" on the bike is gonna be restaured to something better (some chrome polish should do it).
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t147/FrostMeUp/BikeYan.jpg

[DaveW]

Enamel is the best thing to go, then?

Probably not. Not if you want a nice finish. I used it because it's good for filling chips in paint, where spray paint would mess up the surrounding area and leave 'bumps' where the chips were.

-Dave

[CanaBalistic]

LMFAO!!!! I have that exact same bike... What a POS :)

I've painted many bikes in my time. I found hi-gloss marine paint works best. Most of them are self-primering paints. It's a good all-weather paint thats as tuff as powder coat.

Bike prep is fairly straight forward. Disassemble the entire bike. Remove the bearing races from the crank and neck. Sand off all the gloss from the old paint (Pay special attention to the welds). Degrese it with some methanol and string it up by the neck. Fallow the instructions on the paint can and apply 5-10 coats. Let it dry for a month. Reassemble it and enjoy.

[DaveW]

Let it dry for a month.

He aint kiddin. That paint's going to take some battering. So it needs time to cure, and cure right. Maybe a month is a little over the top, but at least 2 weeks i'd say to completely cure and dry. It's the only way to make sure the paint will stay dirt and chip-proof.

-Dave

[.Maleficus.]

Wow, English isn't your native language? You're pretty fluent for it being second. I take it French was your native language?

Well, most of what was posted is pretty much exactly what I would have said, and either go with what Cana said about paints, or use auto paints. They are durable too.

[Nagoshi]

Lol Maleficus, thanks for the compliment on my English. It seems good, but from my point of view, English gets hard when Im reading worklogs. And yes, I'm naturally French ^^

So Ill need to find a non-dusty place to store my bike for 2 weeks? damn, thats long... lol

Cana, you're right on that bike being a POS :) Hi-Gloss Marine Paint? Never heard of that. Also, Im wondering if I can get transparent colored paint in spray cans.

[.Maleficus.]

Like what some airbrush paints are? That they have color but you can see through them? Hmmm, I have no idea if you can. Would be cool if you could.

[Nagoshi]

I think that's it.

Commando did the tutorial but with airbrush paint, and I don't have an airbrush handy.

Guide to killer Carbon Fiber tutorial (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7501)

Maybe I could get a hand on an airbrush... but that'd mean painting my bike where my father works, a black earth factory, full of dust >_< I should ask my dad if he could get a compressor and an airbrush for cheap.

Ill go in many paint shops and ask if they have any transparent black paint in spray cans, Id love to have a "carbon fiber" bike ^^

[Ichbin]

Wait...why not automitive paint? Im so confused now.

I know its gonna take a beating, but you can put overcoats on top of automotive paint to TAKE that beating. Plus i personally think you get better colour from automotive paint.

so im a tad confused at whats goin on here.

[Nagoshi]

I want to go with automotive paint, except to do the carbon fiber painting, I need transparent black paint, which I doubt they can have with automotive paint.

If Commando can look at this thread, could he help me out with this project? please :)

[Ichbin]

candy coat black?

[Commando]

Also, I'm wondering if I can get transparent colored paint in spray cans.

You can get transparent colors in spray paint. They are a little expensive. The only brand I know of off the top of my head is House Of Kolor (HOK). I've seen some spray can versions of their paint at Wal Mart in the Toy Section near the Models. I'm sure you can maybe find it online also. I'll look around when I get some time.

I looked real briefly and couldn't find any, I'll keep looking. I think you probably want to look at online hobby shops to find some.

[Wannabeamodder]

I keep looking at this thing and for the life of me I cannot figure out where you are going to mount the motherboard! :D

Charles